Fish-hook.



Patented Feb. l2, |901. W. A. STRONG.

INU. 568,066.

FISH Hook. (Application led Jan, 28, 1900.)

(No Modal.)

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ll/*HJLIM A. STRONG, OF VICKSBURG, MICHIGAN.

rien-Hook.

SPECIFIICATJEN formingl part of Letters Patent No. 668,066, datedFebruary 12, 190i.

Application filed January 23,1900. Serial No. 2,525. (N0 model-J To @ZZwhom t may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM A. STRONG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vicksburg, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan,have invented a new and useful Fish-Hook, of which the following is aspeciflcation.

This invention relates to fish-hooks; and the objects in view are,lirst, to provide a guard in connection with a hook to prevent it frombecoming entangled in weeds or other like substances when trolling,casting, or otherwise using the hook and which is of sufficientsensitive resilient nature to be easily moved by the sh when attackingthe bait and also permitting the hook to be carried over or across orthrough weeds without engaging it therewith by reason of the flexibilityof the guard, and, secondly, to provide a reflector in connection withthe shank of the hook of a particular form and having a highly-polishedsurface or a reflecting-plating, so as to produce an attractive featureand entice the lish, the said reflector also being of such shape as toavoid entanglement thereof with weeds or other substances and having afilling to weight the same and serving to maintain the bait in anupright position whether dead or alive, as well as simulating the bodyof a minnow, and effectively guides the hook in its movement through thewater.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionconsists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, whichwill be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

in the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a hook, showing theimproved devices applied thereto, the guard having an enlarged doubleterminal construction and the reflector shown with its convex sideadjacent the arm of the guard. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. i,showing the guard of smaller dimension, but of the same shape, and thereflector with its flat face nearest the arm of the guard. Fig. 3 is asimilar view of the improved device, showing a different form of guard,the reflector being arranged as illustrated by Fig. 2. Fig. a is asimilar view showing the reflector in the position illustrated in Fig.Il and the guard of single-forked form. Fig. 5 is a similar view showinga guard constructed like that illustrated by Fig. 4, but of lessdimension, and the reflector provided with a lower auxiliarybait-holding hook. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through thereflector, showing the construction of the same and illustrating a partof the hook-shank in connection therewith and also a portion of theguard-arm. Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of a hook, showing thereflector on the shank thereof adapted for use without the guard. Fig. 8is a horizontal section taken through the center of one of thereflectors and shown on a large scale.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

The numeral l in all the figures designates a hook of any suitabledimension or form and comprising a shank 2 and a barbed or bearded end 3of the usual construction. The upper extremity of the shank 2 is formedwith an eye 4, as shown, for the purpose of attachment to a leader,snood, or the line direct and according as necessities may require.

The simplest form of attachment to the hook and beneficially adding tothe effectiveness thereof is particularly illustrated by Fig. 7 andconsists of a reflector 5, which is intended to be used alone withoutthe additional attachment that will be hereinafter described. The saidreflector is also shown in different positions in several of thepreceding ligures of the drawings for the purpose of demonstrating thatit will serve its function equally well when disposed in a variety ofways. This reflector consists, essentially, of an outer covering orsheathing 6, of copper, which is used in preference to any othermaterial in view of its non-corrosive nature and which is also capableof receiving a very high polish, to thereby form a reflecting-surface,which is one of the salient advantages of this attachment. Thisreflector, as more clearly shown by Fig. 8, is of plano-convex form andbowed longitudinally, the opposite extremities gradually tapering andclosely merging into the shank 2 of the hook 1. The convex face of thereflector may be disposed toward the front of the hook, as shown byFigs. 1,4-, and 5, or the flat or plain face may be so disposed, asshown by Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 7. The plain or iiat face of the reflectorwhen dis- IOO diately set up a spinningor whirlingaction,A

and the same operation will ensue when the rounded or convex face of therefiector is toward the rear. flector is located toward the'front of thehook,

the bait can be more conveniently applied or an accommodation will ensuefrom such po-= sition of the reflector for the application of. Thepolished surfacer certain kinds of bait. of the sheathing or covering 6can be seen in thewater from a considerable distance and will beattractive and entice the fish to move toward or attack the-bait. Ifdesired, the sheathing or covering 6 may be plated with gold, silver, orother metal, and `to weight the reflector it is filled .with softsolder, as at 7, and by this means also it is secured to the shank 2 ofthe hook. The shape ofthe reflector is such that it will be maintainedin an upright position, and so hold the bait whether dead or alive, withobvious advantages. The shape of the reflector also aords means forpermitting it to be easily drawn over or across Weeds or through thelatter Without catching.

As an effective attachment tothe hook and in combination with thereiector set forth dierent forms ofvguards are to be used, and referringnow more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, said guards compriseVineachinstance an arm 8, which is fastened at its upper extremity 9 ina portion of the reiiector, and, as shown by Fig. 1, it is preferablethat the said arm be provided with an intermediate bend 10 to give itgreater spring action. The arm 8 (shown by Fig. 2) does not have theintermediate bend 10 and is fastened .at its upper extremity by a coiledwrapping 11, of suitable wire. On the lower extremities of the arms 8guards 12 are secured ineach instance, the guard l2 shown by Fig. 1being of greater width or generally of'larger dimensions than the guard12 `shown by Fig. 2. Both of the guards shownby Figs. 1 and 2, however,are of doubled U-.shaped form to produce a central arch 13 to freelymove over the barbed or bearded end 3 of the hook 1 and formed of asingle piece of wire having its two extremities drawn closely togetheragainst the lower terminal of the arm 8, and in Fig. 1 said extremitiesare secured by a wrapping 14, of wire, but, as shown in Fig. 2, may besoldered, as at 15. In Fig. 3 the guard comprises a single U-shaped bendor varch 16, which is integrally formed with the opposite members 17 ofa double support 18, said members converging toward theeye 4 at theupper end of the shank 2 above the reflector 5 and secured by a winding19, of wire or other suitable material.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the guards -20.areof singlefork form, standing in thesame normal 're-l When the flat face of there-i lation to the barbed orbearded ends 3 of the hook 1, and produce arches 'which can be easilypushed inwardly toward the shank 2 of the hook. The forks 2O arelongitudinally curved to bring their lower extremities inwardly onopposite sidesof the said barbed or bearded end of the hook and havetheir upper extremities secured to arms 8, similar in allirespects Atothose shown by Fig. 1, the .means of securing the said forks in eachinstance being in the form of a winding 14, similar tothat shown byFig. 1. The arms 8 (shown by Figs. 4 and 5) also have the intermediateinward bends 10 to make them assume their normal positions with greatersurety after operation, and the only difference between the guards shownby Figs. 4 and 5 isthat that illustrated by Fig. 4 is of greaterdimensions than that shown by Fig. 5.

In Fig. 5 an additional feature is shown lin the form of an auxiliarybait-holding 4hook 21, which is adapted to be used with any of thedevices shown and connected to the lower .extremity of the reflector 5and will be effectual in holding large bait regularly up inposition--such, for instance, as a frog-and in the application of thiskind of bait the hook 21 will-be slipped through the center of the lipsor, as commonly known, the nose of a frog and will be disposed in anattractive position. This auxiliary hook also permits the use oflifeless bait and disposes thelatter in a position having the appearancesimilar to that assumed by live bait.

The guard in either form can be easily moved inwardlytoward the shank 2by the fish, and thereby clear the barbed or bearded end 3 of the hook lto perform its usual function. It will be observed, however, that theopposite portions of the guard project over the sides of the said barbedor bearded end ofthe hook and that movement in this direction cannot beeffected and the fish in making the attack is compelled to approachdirectly at the front. This, however, will be regulated by the strengthof the resilient material of which the guard and its arm is composedandralso the force used by the fish in approaching the bait. The guardalso eectually serves to hold the bait in place and prevents Waste ofthe same.

Many other advantages will become apparent to those using the improvedform of hook, and it is obviously apparent that changes in the form,proportions, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from.the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Thecombination with a fish-hook, of a reflector rigidly fixed to the shankthereof and comprising a covering or sheathing and a filling ofweighting material, the latter material serving to secure the shank ofthe hook in the reflector, thelatter having continuous smoothplano-convex reflecting-faces and bowed lon- IOO gitudinally andgradually tapered from an enlarged or thick central or intermediateportion toward opposite ends.

2. The combination with a fish-hook, of a Weighted reflector mounted onand completely inclosing the portion of the hook-shank over which itextends, the said reflector having opposite continuous and smoothplano-convex reflecting faces bowed longitudinally and gradually taperedfrom an enlarged or thickcned central or intermediate portion toward theopposite ends.

3. The combination with a fish-hook, of a reflector fixed on the shankand comprising a covering or sheathing and a filling of weightingmaterial, the latter materialserving to secure the shank of the hook inthe reflector.

4. A guard for a spoon-hook consisting of a resilient support attachedat its upper extremity to a portion of the shank of the hook anddepending from the latter at an outward angle of inclination7 the lowerextremity of the support being provided with a U-shaped arch or yokedistinct from the contour of the support and which stands clear of andover the bearded end of the hook and including in its structure bentportions projected equally in opposite lateral directions, the lowerterminals of the arch or yoke being unconnected and the upper reducedportion always out of contact with the said hook end.

5. A guard for a spoon-hook consisting of a single resilient Wire armconnected at its upper extremity thereto and projecting downwardly at anangle of inclination, and having a U -shaped arch or yoke on its lowerextremity With equal laterally-projected bent portions which arenormally in advance of and free to move over the bearded end of thehook.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM A. STRONG.

"Witnesses:

JESSE R. CRoPsEY, WILLIAM F. NoTLEY.

